Adaptable apparel

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an adaptable apparel for use by people with limited physical capacities and in health care settings. This disclosure provides clothing that may be combinable from set and preformed pieces by the aid of buttons, zippers, or other latching mechanisms such as Velcro® brand locking aids.

BACKGROUND

Most people who have full or adequate use of their physical resources or are not in some manner physically limited, carry on the tasks of getting dressed or fitting into any kind of attire without concern or forethought. As one can imagine, a physically sound person would grab any attire of need or availability and put in on as appropriate and continue on their process or mission without any care. On the other end of the spectrum, imagine a war veteran who lost his hands, legs, combination of limbs or reduced capacity of use of those limbs, trying to get dressed or undressed. Imagine also, a patient in a health facility, who for one reason or another lacks the capacity to get clothed. These people have an enhanced difficulty in making the everyday task of putting on or taking off their attire as routine a process as the rest of the physically fully-endowed society may take for granted.

An easy-on, easy-off set of attires was disclosed in prior provisional application No. 62/444,154 by Victoria Fotabong, said disclosures incorporated herein by reference.

Also noted is that society has in use, full body or mostly complete attires for people wearing clothes. In an instance, one may imagine a patient in a treatment facility having a need to keep a section of their attire open or easily accessible, either for the need for treatment or as an outcome of special needs that may be the reason for said person to be in a facility. The capacity to provide attire that can be sectioned out to meet intended need or purpose would be or paramount importance to those needing such accommodation.

From the foregoing and more, it will be appreciated that what is needed in the art is an attire that is easily adaptable to be worn by those who have less physical capacities or are positioned to need assistance or accommodation in putting on attires of different kinds in different situations. Such combination of attires is disclosed and claimed herein.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an attire that can be worn in situations of limited capacity and by people of limited capacity.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the attire of the present invention provides clothing suitable to be worn by people and in circumstances where a section or part of such clothing should be left bare or open.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of an upper-body apparel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an illustration of an embodiment of an upper-body apparel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another rear perspective view of an illustration of an embodiment of an upper-body apparel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another rear perspective view of an illustration of an embodiment of an upper-body apparel according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an illustration of an embodiment of a trouser according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an embodiment of a dress apparel according to the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides an adaptable attire that may be utilized to serve an easy allowance while presenting a conventional appearance for everyday use.

Referring now to FIG. 1 is provided a representative upper-body apparel 100. Said upper-body apparel may be formed as a jacket, blouse, topcoat, coat, and the like that may a suitable apparel which may yet be worn over another attire. Without regard to situation or circumstance, the apparel 100 may comprise many combinable sections that are preferably easily adaptable to form a coat or such suitable attire in accordance with the present invention. As depicted in FIG. 1, the front portion of the coat 100 depicts a typical coat or jacket without any markings that may display any combinable part, noting that each side of the front cover 120 and 130 presents with a sleeve 140 and lapel 170 that are wearable. The sleeve 140 of the present invention preferably has a slit or openable portion 150 that may operably open for the introduction of an arm or limb of a user. Upon the insertion of a limb or arm of a user within the confines of the open portion of the sleeve 140 of the present invention, the sleeve 140 may preferably then be closed or wrapped over and optionally combined by use of a latching mechanism 152. Such latching mechanism 152 may include a zipper, button, hooks or other usable means to form a sleeve 140 over the arm or limb of the wearer. The sleeve 140 of the present invention may be detachable and combinable at the shoulder portion 160 wherein a suitable combining process which may include zippers and latches or hooks may be adapted to operably latch or join the sleeve to the main jacket or coat of the present invention. When the portions of the sleeve 140 are varied, a first portion 152 may be combined with a second portion 156 to form a sleeve 140 in the teaching of the present invention. A lapel 170 or other formations to make the adaptable apparel of the present invention may be incorporated in various shapes or sizes as deemed usable or practical for intended purposes.

FIG. 2 depicts a coat 200 from a rear view of the adaptable apparel of the present invention wherein the side-by-side combination 220 illustrates the combination usable to form the rear portion of the coat or upper garment 200. The slit portion marking 222 depicts the combination locations or points of joining wherein one portion of the coat may be preferably joined or combined with another portion to form a fuller coat according to the present invention. As noted in FIG. 1, each portion of the coat that is suitably combined to form the adaptable apparel of the present invention may be so combined by use of zippers, latches, buttons, other interlocking mechanisms or combinations thereof. Given the many combinations practical for apparels such as disclosed, the various use of multiple portions is anticipated and may be formed as declarations of fashions or as adaptable process for anyone who may need clothes or a coat as prepared herein. Reasonably, the left and right portion of the rear garment are preferably suitable to be combined as appropriate without flipping the left portion for the right one and vice versa.

Referring to FIG. 3, the coat or jacket 300 of the present invention is displayed from a rear perspective view and showing where the specific combination locations are accomplished by means of latches 320 such as zippers, hooks, buttons or other combinable accessories that may be preferable to form an adaptable apparel of the present invention. Since jackets are typically worn over a dress, shirt or blouse, optionally without an inner attire, the coat or jacket 300 may be formed as a statement with letterings or markings to depict an intended message. It is reasonable to have a jacket as depicted in rear and a front combinable in any manner to complete the apparel as desired. FIG. 4 illustrates a combination by use of hooks in the teaching of the present invention to form a coat or jacket 400 having hooks 420.

FIG. 5 illustrates a trouser or pant 500 is provided having a cover or flap 510 wherein the flap 510 is secured to the pant 500 at the waist 520 or crotch area 530. The sides of the flap 510 may be presented with and interlocking fastener such as, Velcro or Scotchlock components in male-female combinations. This interlocking fastener process presents for an easy opening and closure is facilitated by the pressing of the male-female components of the interlocking fastener. The trouser 500 of the present invention fits and forms as an ordinary trouser with the preformed and designed flap over to allow for easy use by the wearer. The flap 510, if secured as the waist 520, preferably releases for opening from a crotch position thus making the flap open upwards. If said flap 510 is secured at the crotch position, the top or waist level may be made releasable to open and flap downwards. It is reasonable to imagine a flap that opens sideways and depending on which location is secured, makes for the other sides releasable and openable for convenience of use. The flap 510 of the present invention is preferably wide enough to allow for a user to open, ease themselves without more and close the flap as appropriate. It is understandable that the flap can be made fanciful or from the same material as the clothing used for the trouser or pant 500. In some instances, the flap can be formed from leather or other form fitting and flexible enough material as one prefers.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a pair of pants, trousers or shorts may be fabricated with at least a patch which may operably be formed to cover the rear portion wherein such patch may allow the wearer to remove and ease themselves using a toilet, whether that is providing a large enough patch to sit and use a toilet or for the combined forms to open up enough to allow for such method of easing oneself. As depicted in FIG. 5, imagined for the rear opening, the embodiment of the present invention preferably allows for a user to adapt one that opens up on the waistline, seat or crotch area, or sideways to allow to ease of use. In this embodiment, a rear-opening patch covers the bottom portion and should similar to the front version may be reclosed with the use of zippers, buttons, latches or other means as appropriate.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the present invention includes a dress 600 preferably having a wrap-around form that allows for a first section 610 of the dress that can be formed or wrapped over a second section and operably combined to present a dress that is adaptable to be worn by a user. The wrap-over or wrap-around dress or clothing may be fastened by a zipper, clasp, fastener or other easily adaptable items for combination as a clothe or apparel of the present invention. In some instances, the securing or fastening of the sections of the clothe may be accomplished using buttons, zippers, fasteners and the like. The makeup and design of the clothe of the present invention may be provided in segments or sections such blouses and dress combinations. Other options include, but are not limited to front and back sections, sides and sides combinable sections or any other usable combination that are usable to form a dress or clothe according to the present invention. In some instances, the aesthetic presentation of the dress may be enhanced with designs or clip-ons to provide a fashionable dress that can be worn as dressy or casual attire.

The means and methods of combination of the apparel of the present invention may be adapted as appropriate to suit the clothe as may be used. It is reasonable to have clasps, zippers and the like that are preferably presented to provide a seeming fashion statement for the user. The flexibility of the combination process is preferably incorporated as clothes are necessarily flexible to form around the body of the wearer. Some apparel may use buttons, clasps, zipper or combinations of same, or may yet be latched differently from each other to make the clothe usable for intended purposes.

In an embodiment, the apparel of the present invention may be worn by someone who does not possess limbs or may be limited in the use of the limbs for one reason or another. In an embodiment of the present invention, a dress suitable to be worn by women may be produced and available in combinable pieces that can be latched up or zipped up to form the full dress. A dress wherein the upper portion of the clothing includes patches that are allowable for buttoning up or zipping up or clasped to form the final apparel as can be worn. The benefit of this set up is that the clothing comes in ready pieces that are made ‘whole’ at point of dressing to accommodate for people who may not be confined to a bed, wheelchair or other limitations. As an example, a patient in a medical facility who is confined to a bed or other semi-permanent conditions may be able to dress up in a manner that only the front part of the clothing is snapped to the rest of the patch for a full clothe.

It is also imaginable to provide the present invention with collapsible portions or portions that can be combined with the aid of a latching or combining mechanism wherein portions are combined. A locking mechanism such as VELCRO® or SCOTCHLOCK® may be used according to the present invention wherein one patch or portion of the clothing has a female portion and the other has a male portion for use as an interlocking or combining mechanism.

While clothing design may be different for male and female body shapes and style, the notion and process of making them fit the many needs, styles and body sizes are contemplated and adaptable as appropriate to form the usable clothing. The need to produce these clothes with many combinable instruments are considered as some material may not have buttons while others may have zippers and yet others may have clamps of various kinds. This invention as disclosed serves to make a combination of fully prepared portions that would end up becoming the full apparel for use as final apparel for those who may need such combination to make a clothing of the present invention.

The present invention provides clothing that is adaptable to provide a varied option to the many instances wherein an apparel combination from many combinable pieces is made usable. This approach provides capacity to zip, latch, button or otherwise fit in pieces of preset clothing pieces or portions set to make a dress or coat operably useful for the intended purpose. A user, who for one reason or another cannot fit into fully formed or tailored clothing can use this combination to appear formal and usual. As disclosed above, users of this invention may be patients in health care settings, people with limited physical capacities such as wounded warriors and the like, others who for one reason or another are bereft with challenges dressing up or being clothed while portions of their bodies are left bare for intended applications.

A benefit of the present invention is the provision of the embodiments of the present invention for use wheelchair bound patients, people with limited physical capacities, patients regimented to bed routines, obese individuals or others who are similarly situated or visited with conditions that reduce their capacity to have active or full use of their limbs or appendages.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the teachings found herein may be applied to yet other embodiments within the scope of the claims hereto attached. The complete disclosure of all patents, patent documents, and publications are incorporated herein by reference as if individually incorporated. 

What is claimed:
 1. An apparel, comprising: combinable portions of sections that are suitable to combine into a dress; latching the combinable sections of the dress, wherein such combination provides an apparel that is adaptable to be worn as a dress or suit.
 2. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the combination is accomplished by use of zippers, latches, buttons, clasps or combinations thereof.
 3. The apparel of claim 1, wherein the apparel portions are made in segments.
 4. The apparel of claim 3, wherein the segments include dress portions, blouse portions that may be combined into a dress.
 5. The apparel of claim 3, wherein the portions are suitable to form a pair of trousers or shorts. 